Thiruvananthapuram:
A recent article in the RSS-affiliated magazine Organiser has sparked debate by claiming that the Catholic Church, not the Waqf Board, is the largest non-government landholder in India. The article, titled ‘Who has more land in India? The Catholic Church vs Waqf Board Debate’, was published on April 3.
The article alleges that the Catholic Church owns around 17.29 crore acres (7 crore hectares) of land across the country. This revelation comes even as BJP leaders in Kerala celebrate the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it a ‘gift’ to Munambam protesters, a movement led by the Catholic Church.
“For years, many believed the Waqf Board was the second-largest landowner after the Indian government. However, the actual data suggests that the Catholic Church holds the largest land holdings among non-governmental entities,” the article states.
The Organiser further claims that the Church’s total property is valued at approximately Rs 20,000 crore. It highlights the Church’s vast presence in education and healthcare, listing:
2,457 hospital dispensaries
240 medical/nursing colleges
28 general colleges
5 engineering colleges
3,765 secondary schools
7,319 primary schools
3,187 nursery schools
Much of this land, the article claims, was acquired during British rule, especially after the Indian Church Act of 1927, which facilitated large land grants to Church authorities.
The article also raises controversial allegations, claiming that Church-run institutions provide free or low-cost services to economically weaker individuals and allegedly pressure them into religious conversion. It suggests that in some instances, tribal and rural landowners were either encouraged or coerced into converting to Christianity, after which Church-affiliated bodies took over their lands.
Though the Church denies these claims, the article insists that numerous cases of illegal land acquisition linked to conversion activities have emerged in various states. It warns of a trend where tribal lands, once held by indigenous people, have gradually been transferred to Church institutions under different pretexts.
The article’s timing is seen as politically significant, coinciding with the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill by both Houses of Parliament. With the spotlight previously on the Waqf Board, the article hints that the Catholic Church in Kerala could be the next target of the RSS narrative.
